What you need to know before you butter-boost your coffee

If you’ve been inspired by the celeb chefs and health gurus who are brewing their coffee Bulletproof-style and want to give butter-spiked java a shot, there are a couple of things you need to know first. Here’s your cheat sheet to getting it right (and to hopefully more energy-filled mornings):

The butter: Country Crock, highly processed and filled with preservatives, isn’t going to make you feel good. And organic butter won’t cut it either—those cows may have just been fed organic corn. Getting butter made from truly grass-fed, pasture-raised cows is super important because studies have shown it contains much higher levels of all of the fatty acids you’re eating it for (conjugated linoleic acid, in particular), plus important vitamins and minerals. Kerrygold, from Ireland, is a popular option that’s widely available in grocery stores.

The oil: The real Bulletproof Coffee is made with MCT oil, with is a more concentrated version of the same healthy fats that are present in coconut oil. Since MCT is more distilled, people report more intense energy levels compared to using coconut oil, but it’s also much more expensive and much harder to find. If you use coconut, use virgin, unrefined.

Blend, don’t stir: Break out your Nutribullet and blend everything together to a frothy latte-like consistency. No one likes oily liquid or floating butter pats. Ew.